MOSCOW - In a significant announcement at the CIS Heads of State Council meeting:In a significant announcement at the CIS Heads of State Council meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that the Azerbaijani city of Lachin will be the cultural capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) for the year 2025. According to Trend News Agency, President Putin emphasized the importance of this rotating cultural title during his speech. "Every year we choose the cultural capital of the Commonwealth, which becomes the center of bright, creative, and humanitarian events that attract the keen interest of citizens of all our countries. Now it is Samarkand, and next year, by the project solution proposed for our approval, the baton will be taken by Azerbaijan's Lachin," he stated. This initiative is part of a broader effort to foster cultural exchanges and mutual understanding among CIS member states. The declaration came during the limited format meeting of the CIS Heads of State Council, which is c urrently taking place in Moscow. The selection of Lachin is a move that highlights the city's growing prominence and its potential in boosting cultural synergy across the CIS countries.